Rural infrastructure will curb banditry in FCT — Wike

Federal Capital Territory (FCT), minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike has justified the reason for citing infrastructure in rural areas of the nation’s capital, Abuja.

The minister justified the action while answering questions from newsmen on Friday, after inspection of ongoing Yangoji-Sukuku Ebo and Kwali Unity Bank rural roads in Kwali area council.

Yangoji -Sukuku Ebo- road is being handled by Gilmor Engineering Limited, and Kwali Unity Bank Road is being constructed by another contractor.

Wike said the rural dwellers deserve good infrastructure, since they are part of the FCT, saying it will curb rural-urban migration and banditry.

He said; “Are they not part of the FCT, are they not supposed to have a good impact and dividends of democracy? Development cannot only be concentrated in the city but we have to take development to rural areas that alone can mitigate the rural-urban migration.

“We need to give them infrastructure to be able to develop their own, for example if there are farmers here, how will they carry their produce to the city?

“Understanding where we are coming from, now just imagine that people were kidnapped, how will the security personnel have access to this kind of area? The topography alone is difficult.

“So, creating the infrastructure particularly road here is key to the development of this community, that is the essence of Renewed Hope Agenda that is not just for those in the city but for rural dwellers too to benefit from the dividends of democracy.

“For me, I feel delighted because we are taking development to rural areas. We went to the Kwali Bridge, how many years the bridge has been abandoned? People were caught off, nowhere to go to, see how happy the people were, and before December this year, it will be commissioned that is what people are looking for.

“This will make them have a feeling that there is government in FCT, particularly when they have projects to show that the government has impacted their lives. I am happy as well.”

In his remarks, the Managing Director, Gilmor Engineering Limited, Eli-Goldhar assured the minister that the Yangoji -Sukuku Ebo-road will be delivered before December.